The Tribune

There’s a saying that to get what you want in this life. You must be willing to risk it all to gain it all; in a sense it’s no risk, no reward.

But in the grand scheme of things, how many of us are real risk-takers? More than this, in a society where so many seem motivated to play it safe, how do you even begin to build your risk tolerance?

The fact is simple, every time you take a step towards the thing that you desire most you must take a little risk. Fear of failure, fear of rejection or fear of losing control are amongst some of the reasons why most people opt to play it safe. They are burdened by the thought of, “What if I took the risk and it didn’t work out?”

This thought keeps them stuck behind the line of possibility, which from their perspective is impossible.

Yet the more you are willing to risks the more likely you are to achieve your goals. In a nutshell, there’s no success without some kind of risk. Whilst some risks can be calculated, invariably there are moments when you must willingly throw caution to the wind and just do it.

But what is risk-taking all about and how can you get better at it?

First of all, understand that almost everything we do may have some inherent risks. Like driving a car, walking a flight of stairs or simply eating a meal; there’s the risk of a collision, you could slip and fall down or you could easily get food poisoning.

However, these inherent risks are often not at the forefront of our minds and are not based on our personal intentions.

Real risk-taking has some unique qualities. First there’s often a reward.

Second there’s often something to lose. For example, in the banking arena, there are risk managers whose primary function is to assess, mitigate and manage the bank’s risk, which comes through the bank’s provision of loans and credit facilities. In most instances, the bank takes calculated risks. Meaning that with the right value of collateral, they may be willing to risk providing you with some equivalent credit.

However, in our personal lives, when it comes to achieving goals and living an empowered life, taking risk takes on a whole new meaning. Primarily because it’s personal; you and you alone must take the leap and or lead the charge.

You must be willing to put yourself out there; sharing your feelings, your ideas, point of view and or even your fears. This in and of itself can be a major challenge for many.

I believe that one of the best ways to build your risk tolerance is learning to communicate effectively. As a public speaking communications coach, I find that this is one of the major challenges that most face. Many people have not mastered their communication skills and are unaware of the power of their own voice.

Think about this – no matter what it is that you desire to achieve, you must express it to someone. Be it an individual, a bank or a group of decision makers; you must communicate your ideas to somebody.

For this reason, it is imperative to ably express what it is that you want to do, to buy, to build, to create or to experience. Indeed, communicating clearly is the greatest challenge holding many back from achieving their goals; they are too afraid to speak up. Know this every time you express yourself with clear thought you take a little risk; slowly increasing your risk tolerance and building your confidence.

For some, personal risk-taking may seem farfetched. But it’s not. In fact, it is often simpler than it may seem. There are many risk-taking opportunities all around you. For example, consider the many meetings that people attend regularly. Most people either have nothing to say or contribute or they are simply too afraid to express themselves. Yet meetings are a great way to assert yourself; asking a question or seeking more clarity on an issue.

As simple as it sounds, it is a powerful opportunity to connect with your voice and build your risk tolerance. Speaking up in meetings was how I learned the value and power of my voice. The more I spoke up, the more confident I became. Soon, others were asking me to speak on their behalf.

Although it may seem common for many in this small society to play it safe, leader to leader, know that your personal success and effectiveness hinges on your willingness to take risk. Building your risk tolerance takes you beyond the status quo. You become one of the “crazies” as defined by the late Apple mogul Steve Jobs.

Today, make the commitment to willingly take the risks. Clearly think things through; understanding that everything worth having is worth fighting for. Make certain that the prize is worth the price. Your willingness to take the risks is the precursor to living an empowered life.

What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770.

• Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach and communication expert. Visit www.michellemmiller.com or send mail to PO Box CB-13060.